Get Your Green On

Eat at these bright and cheery garden-inspired spots

As spring springs on the South Fork, consider bringing a little of that garden inspo into your dining life. Greenery — whether it’s on your plate or in your surroundings — doesn’t have to be relegated to your backyard. The East End has some of the most beautiful garden-inspired restaurants, and, this spring, you should consider paying them a visit. Take a tour of the Hamptons through some of the greenest, most garden-inspired restaurants we have to offer. It’s not always what’s on your plate that counts (although that helps, too). Sometimes, the best garden vibes are in your very own backyard. 

If your travels find you in East Hampton, duck into Carissa’s, on Pantigo Road, where a petite, Parisian-styled garden, teems with greenery all around. Inside, the abundant menu — which changes seasonally — highlights not only Carissa Waechter’s baked goods, but also a host of savory items. Herbs are cut from planter boxes on the restaurant’s walkway. It’s the essence of the garden, right off of one of the Hamptons’ busiest roads. 

At David Loewenberg’s Fresno, a pergola shades a lovely outdoor garden space (known, in season, as the rosé garden). The restaurant, which serves delightful seasonal fare, is perfect for delving into oysters on the half shell, a grilled skirt steak with arugula salad, or even the signature burger, served with pommes frites.  

Not far down the road, in Sag Harbor, the classic American Hotel reads like a cold weather paradise. But allow the maitre’d to escort you into the well-concealed courtyard and there’s a secret garden waiting for you to explore. The leafy green interior, open to guests in the warmer months, feels like its own private garden for those in the know. Decked out with plants, flowers, and a warm Sag Harbor breeze, it’s the garden you didn’t know you needed. 

Bridgehampton’s Topping Rose House has a hard-to-forget garden atmosphere, perfect for dining in when temperatures start to rise. Whether you duck in for brunch, lunch, or dinner at Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s delicious spot (and whether you opt for the pizza, the kale salad, or the hulking 28-day dry-aged rib eye for two), you’re sure to find peace of mind in the green and serene surroundings. 

Southampton’s Tutto il Giorno is always a delightful (and surprisingly green) destination for an al fresco lunch or dinner. The restaurant’s patio is shrouded in plantings, making it feel like its own private oasis — an escape from the busy, bustling sidewalks of Southampton. Right down the road, at Sant Ambroeus, with its narrow alleyway that has been transformed into bespoke outdoor seating, lunch is served outside, in a transformative garden, full of muted greens.  

At T Bar, don’t let the location near the always busy train station fool you. A curated outdoor garden brings a burst of greenery. Potted plants and sky-high shrubs surround an ample dining area, where guests can order steakhouse classics on warm spring and summer evenings. It’s the perfect way to spend an evening — an ode to spring, and all the warm months that come after.